Liquid crystal display device and manufacturing method thereof

ABSTRACT

A liquid crystal display device includes first substrate including a display area in which a plurality of pixels are disposed and a non-display area which surrounds the display area, and a light-shielding member disposed on the first substrate, the light-shielding member disposed on boundaries between the plurality of pixels and on the entire non-display area and defining an alignment layer dam pattern, which is in the shape of a recess, in the non-display area, where the alignment layer dam pattern surrounds the display area and has step-type height differences on a side of the display area.

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/197,880, filed on Jun. 30, 2016, which claims priority to KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2016-0002802, filed on Jan. 8, 2016, and allthe benefits accruing therefrom under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the content ofwhich in its entirety is herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a liquid crystaldisplay (“LCD”) device and a manufacturing method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

A liquid crystal display (“LCD”) device displays an image by injecting aliquid crystal material between two substrates which face each other,and applies a voltage to the liquid crystal material so as to change amolecular arrangement of the liquid crystal material. Since it isdifficult to obtain a uniform molecular arrangement of the liquidcrystal material simply by injecting the liquid crystal material betweenthe two substrates, an alignment film aligns the liquid crystal materialin a particular direction. Polyimide (“PI”) is generally used to formthe alignment layer, and has advantages in that it reduces a reflectionof a transparent electrode and improves withstand-direct current (“DC”)characteristics while stabilizing the alignment of liquid crystalmolecules. The alignment layer is formed by preparing a PI solution,applying the PI solution to a display area of a substrate through inkjetprinting, and drying the PI solution. The PI solution vaporizes first atan edge area of the display area where the attraction between themolecules is relatively weak compared to a middle area of the displayarea.

SUMMARY

Since a PI solution is dried first at an edge area of a display area,discoloration stains are generated due to regional differences in adegree of drying of the polyimide (“PI”) solution.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide a liquid crystal display(“LCD”) device including an alignment layer dam pattern which stores analignment layer composition in a light-shielding member so as tocompensate for a speed of drying of the alignment layer composition atthe edge of a display area and thus to form an alignment layer having auniform thickness throughout the display area.

However, exemplary embodiments of the invention are not restricted tothose set forth herein. The above and other exemplary embodiments of theinvention will become more apparent to one of ordinary skill in the artto which the invention pertains by referencing the detailed descriptionof the invention given below.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention an LCD device thatincludes a first substrate including a display area in which a pluralityof pixels are disposed and a non-display area which surrounds thedisplay area, and a light-shielding member formed on the firstsubstrate, the light-shielding member disposed on boundaries between theplurality of pixels and on the entire non-display area and defining analignment layer dam pattern, which is in the shape of a recess, in thenon-display area, where the alignment layer dam pattern surrounds thedisplay area and has step-type height differences on a side of thedisplay area.

In an exemplary embodiment, an alignment layer may dispose on the entiredisplay area and on the alignment layer dam pattern in the non-displayarea, where the alignment layer has a uniform thickness throughout theentire display area.

In an exemplary embodiment, a surface height of the light-shieldingmember that define the alignment layer dam pattern may change from afirst height to a second height, which is lower than the first height,to a third height, which is lower than the second height, to a fourthheight, which is higher than the first height, in an outward directionfrom the display area.

In an exemplary embodiment, an alignment layer dam pattern may havedam-type height differences, which are larger than the step-type heightdifferences on the side of the display area, on an outer side of thenon-display area.

In an exemplary embodiment, a second substrate may be spaced apart fromthe first substrate and facing the first substrate, and a sealing memberdisposed in the non-display area, the sealing member interposed betweenthe first substrate and the second substrate to bond the first substrateand the second substrate together, where the alignment layer dam patternis disposed on an inner side of the sealing member.

In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of color filters may disposedbetween the first substrate and the light-shielding member and providedfor the plurality of pixels, respectively, and a plurality of dummycolor filters disposed in the non-display area, where the alignmentlayer dam pattern is defined by a shape of the surface of thelight-shielding member on the dummy color filters.

In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of color filters may includefirst, second, and third color filters, which are alternately disposedon the display area and display different colors, a thickness of thethird color filter is larger than thicknesses of the first and secondcolor filters.

In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of dummy color filters mayinclude a first dummy color filter, which is disposed adjacent to thedisplay area and a second dummy color filter, which is disposed on anouter side of the first dummy color filter and is spaced apart from thefirst dummy color filter, the first dummy color filter includes the samematerial as that of the third color filter, and the second dummy colorfilter includes the same material as that of one of the first and secondcolor filters.

In an exemplary embodiment, the plurality of dummy color filters mayfurther include a third dummy color filter, which is disposed on anouter side of the second dummy color filter and is spaced apart from thesecond dummy color filter, and the third dummy color filter includes thesame material as that of one of the first, second, and third colorfilters.

In an exemplary embodiment, an interlayer dielectric layer may disposedbetween the light-shielding member and the color filters and between thelight-shielding member and the dummy color filters, where the interlayerdielectric layer covers the display area and the non-display area and anopening, which partially exposes a space between the dummy colorfilters, is defined in the interlayer dielectric layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, an area in which the alignment layer dampattern may be defined includes a plurality of sections having differentheights, the plurality of sections include a first section in which thefirst dummy color filter is stacked on the first substrate, theinterlayer dielectric layer is stacked on the first dummy color filter,and the light-shielding member is stacked on the interlayer dielectriclayer, a second section in which the interlayer dielectric layer isstacked on the first substrate and the light-shielding member is stackedon the interlayer dielectric layer, a third section in which thelight-shielding member is stacked directly on the first substrate, and afourth section in which the second dummy color filter is stacked on thefirst substrate, the interlayer dielectric layer is stacked on thesecond dummy color filter, and the light-shielding member is stacked onthe interlayer dielectric layer, and the first, second, third, andfourth sections are disposed adjacent to one another or in series alongthe outward direction from the display area.

In an exemplary embodiment, a thickness of the light-shielding member inthe first section may be less than thicknesses of the light-shieldingmembers in the second through fourth sections, respectively.

In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is provided aliquid device comprising a first substrate including a display area inwhich a plurality of pixels are disposed and a non-display area whichsurrounds the display area, a plurality of color filters disposed on thefirst substrate in the display area and provided for the plurality ofpixels, respectively, first and second dummy color filters disposed onthe non-display area of the first substrate, an interlayer dielectriclayer which is disposed on the plurality of color filters and the firstand second dummy color filters on the first substrate and in which afirst opening, which partially exposes a space between the first andsecond dummy color filters, is defined, and a light-shielding memberdisposed on the interlayer dielectric layer, on boundaries between theplurality of pixels, and on the entire non-display area, where a surfaceheight of the light-shielding member on and around a boundary betweenthe display area and the non-display area changes from a first height toa second height, which is lower than the first height, to a thirdheight, which is lower than the second height, to a fourth height, whichis higher than the first height, in an outward direction from thedisplay area.

In an exemplary embodiment, a third disposed on an outer side of thesecond dummy color filter and may spaced apart from the second dummycolor filter, where a second opening, which exposes a space between thesecond and third dummy color filters, is defined in the interlayerdielectric layer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the non-display area may includes aplurality of sections, which have different heights and are disposedalong the outward direction from the display area, the plurality ofsections include a first section in which the first dummy color filteris stacked on the first substrate, the interlayer dielectric layer isstacked on the first dummy color filter, and the light-shielding memberis stacked on the interlayer dielectric layer, a second section in whichthe interlayer dielectric layer is stacked on the first substrate andthe light-shielding member is stacked on the interlayer dielectriclayer, a third section in which the light-shielding member is stackeddirectly on the first substrate, and a fourth section in which thesecond dummy color filter is stacked on the first substrate, theinterlayer dielectric layer is stacked on the second dummy color filter,and the light-shielding member is stacked on the interlayer dielectriclayer, and the first, second, third, and fourth sections are disposedadjacent to one another or in series along an outward direction from thefirst substrate.

In an exemplary embodiment, the light-shielding member may have a secondthickness on the boundaries between the plurality of color filters inthe display area and in the first section of the non-display area andhas a first thickness, which is larger than the second thickness, on theentire non-display area except for the first section, and a height fromthe surface of the light-shielding member from the first substrate isthe first height in the first section and is a fourth height in thefourth section, the fourth height higher than the first height.

In an exemplary embodiment, an alignment layer may be disposed on theentire display area and on the first through fourth sections of thenon-display area, where the alignment layer has a uniform thicknessthroughout the entire display area.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the invention A manufacturingmethod of an LCD device comprising preparing a first substrate includinga display area and a non-display area, which surrounds the display area,forming a first color filter on the display area of the first substrate,forming a second color filter on the display area of the first substrateon which the first color filter is formed and forming a second dummycolor filter on the non-display area, forming a third color filter onthe display area of the first substrate on which the first and secondcolor filters and the second dummy color filter are formed and forming afirst dummy color filter on the non-display area, forming an interlayerdielectric layer in which an opening, which partially exposes a spacebetween the first and second dummy color filters, is defined on theentire surface of the first substrate on which the first, second, andthird color filters and the first and second dummy color filters areformed, applying a light-shielding material on the entire surface of thefirst substrate on which the interlayer dielectric layer is formed, andforming a light-shielding member among the first, second, and thirdcolor filters in the display area and on an entirety of the non-displayarea by patterning the light-shielding material, the light-shieldingmember defining an alignment layer dam pattern, which is a recess, inthe non-display area.

In an exemplary embodiment, after the forming the light-shieldingmember, applying an alignment layer composition on the inside of thealignment layer dam pattern and on the entire display area, and formingan alignment layer having a uniform thickness throughout the displayarea by compensating for a drying speed of the alignment layercomposition at the edge of the display area with the alignment layercomposition stored in the alignment layer dam pattern.

In an exemplary embodiment, comprises performing an exposure processusing a photomask including a first light-transmitting area, whichtransmits light therethrough in a first tone, a secondlight-transmitting area, which transmits light therethrough in a secondtone, and a light-shielding area, which does not transmit lighttherethrough.

In an exemplary embodiment, the performing the exposure process usingthe photomask, comprises performing the exposure process by placing thephotomask such that the light-shielding area corresponds to tops of thefirst, second, and third color filters, the second light-transmittingarea corresponds to spaces among the first, second, and third colorfilters and a top of the first dummy color filter, and the firstlight-transmitting area corresponds to the entire non-display areaexcept for the top of the first dummy color filter.

According to the exemplary embodiments, regional differences in thespeed of drying of an alignment layer composition applied to a displayarea may be compensated for by storing the alignment layer compositionin an alignment layer dam pattern.

In addition, deviations in the thickness of an alignment layer may beimproved.

Therefore, discoloration stains that may be formed as the alignmentlayer composition is dried may be improved.

Moreover, since the alignment layer dam pattern is provided between thedisplay area and a sealing member and performs the functions of a dam,the alignment layer composition applied to the display area may beprevented from spilling over to the sealing member.

Other features and exemplary embodiments will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description, the drawings, and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other exemplary embodiments, advantages and features ofthis disclosure will become more apparent by describing in furtherdetail exemplary embodiments thereof with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a liquid crystaldisplay (“LCD”) device according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line II-II′ of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 3 through 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating an exemplaryembodiment of a manufacturing method of an LCD device, according to theinvention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of anLCD device according to the invention.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary embodiment of anLCD device according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Advantages and features of the invention and methods of accomplishingthe same may be understood more readily by reference to the followingdetailed description of preferred embodiments and the accompanyingdrawings. The invention may, however, be embodied in many differentforms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodimentsset forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that thisdisclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey theconcept of the invention to those skilled in the art, and the inventionwill only be defined by the appended claims.

It will be understood that when an element or layer is referred to asbeing “on” another element or layer, it can be directly on the otherelement or layer or intervening elements or layers may be present. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout.

It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. maybe used herein to describe various elements, these elements should notbe limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish oneelement from another element. Thus, for example, a first element, afirst component or a first section discussed below could be termed asecond element, a second component or a second section without departingfrom the teachings of the invention.

It will be understood that, although the terms “first,” “second,”“third” etc. may be used herein to describe various elements,components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components,regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms.These terms are only used to distinguish one element, component, region,layer or section from another element, component, region, layer orsection. Thus, “a first element,” “component,” “region,” “layer” or“section” discussed below could be termed a second element, component,region, layer or section without departing from the teachings herein.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms, including “at least one,” unless the content clearly indicatesotherwise. “Or” means “and/or.” As used herein, the term “and/or”includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associatedlisted items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in thisspecification, specify the presence of stated features, regions,integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do notpreclude the presence or addition of one or more other features,regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof.

Furthermore, relative terms, such as “lower” or “bottom” and “upper” or“top,” may be used herein to describe one element's relationship toanother element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understoodthat relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations ofthe device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. In anexemplary embodiment, when the device in one of the figures is turnedover, elements described as being on the “lower” side of other elementswould then be oriented on “upper” sides of the other elements. Theexemplary term “lower,” can therefore, encompasses both an orientationof “lower” and “upper,” depending on the particular orientation of thefigure. Similarly, when the device in one of the figures is turned over,elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements would then beoriented “above” the other elements. The exemplary terms “below” or“beneath” can, therefore, encompass both an orientation of above andbelow.

“About” or “approximately” as used herein is inclusive of the statedvalue and means within an acceptable range of deviation for theparticular value as determined by one of ordinary skill in the art,considering the measurement in question and the error associated withmeasurement of the particular quantity (i.e., the limitations of themeasurement system). For example, “about” can mean within one or morestandard deviations, or within ±30%, 20%, 10%, 5% of the stated value.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientificterms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by oneof ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will befurther understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly useddictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that isconsistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and theinvention, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formalsense unless expressly so defined herein.

Exemplary embodiments are described herein with reference to crosssection illustrations that are schematic illustrations of idealizedembodiments. As such, variations from the shapes of the illustrations asa result, for example, of manufacturing techniques and/or tolerances,are to be expected. Thus, embodiments described herein should not beconstrued as limited to the particular shapes of regions as illustratedherein but are to include deviations in shapes that result, for example,from manufacturing. In an exemplary embodiment, a region illustrated ordescribed as flat may, typically, have rough and/or nonlinear features.Moreover, sharp angles that are illustrated may be rounded. Thus, theregions illustrated in the figures are schematic in nature and theirshapes are not intended to illustrate the precise shape of a region andare not intended to limit the scope of the claims.

In the specification, a light emitting device refers to a deviceproviding light and for example, may include a lighting device or adisplay device such as an organic light-emitting diode display device,an inorganic light-emitting diode display device, a plasma displaydevice or the like, displaying a screen using light.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be describedwith reference to the accompanying drawings.

The elements of a liquid crystal display (“LCD”) device according to anexemplary embodiment of the invention will hereinafter be described.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an LCD device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view takenalong line II-II′ of FIG. 1.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an LCD device 1000 includes a display areaDA and a non-display area NDA, which surrounds the display area DA.

The display area DA is located at the center of the LCD device 1000 anddisplays an image. In an exemplary embodiment, the display area DA maybe rectangular, for example, but the invention is not limited thereto.In an exemplary embodiment, the display area DA may be circular or maybe in the form of a closed curve as in an automotive display, forexample.

A plurality of pixels PX is disposed in the display area DA. The pixelsPX may be arranged in a matrix form. Each of the pixels PX includes acolor filter. A light-shielding member 140 is disposed along theboundaries between the pixels PX. The light-shielding member 140 mayextend into the non-display area NDA. That is, the light-shieldingmember 140 may be disposed along the boundaries between the pixels PX inthe display area DA and may cover the entire non-display area NDA.

The non-display area NDA is disposed in the periphery of the displayarea DA. The non-display area NDA may completely surround the displayarea DA.

A sealing member 160 is disposed on an outer side of the non-displayarea NDA. The sealing member 160 is interposed between a first displaypanel 100 and a second display panel 200, bonds the first display panel100 and the second display panel 200 together, and seals the spacebetween the first display panel 100 and the second display panel 200.

An alignment layer dam pattern 180 is disposed along the boundarybetween the display area DA and the non-display area NDA. That is, thealignment layer dam pattern 180 may be disposed on a further inner sideof the LCD device 1000 than the sealing member 160.

The alignment layer dam pattern 180 may be obtained by adjusting thesurface height of the light-shielding member 140 to differ from oneregion to another region. The alignment layer dam pattern 180 preventsan alignment layer 150 from spilling over to an outer side of thenon-display area NDA to contact the sealing member 160 and at the sametime, makes the thickness of the alignment layer 150 in the display areaDA uniform. The alignment layer dam pattern 180 will be described laterin detail.

The cross-sectional structure of the LCD device 1000 will hereinafter bedescribed. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the LCD device 1000 includes thefirst display panel 100 and the second display panel 200, which faceeach other, and a liquid crystal layer 300, which is interposed betweenthe first display panel 100 and the second display panel 200.

The first display panel 100 has a first substrate 110 as a basesubstrate. In an exemplary embodiment, the first substrate 110 may beprovided as a transparent insulating substrate including glass or atransparent plastic material, for example.

Color filters are disposed on the display area DA of the first substrate110 and are provided for the pixels PX, respectively. In an exemplaryembodiment, the color filters include red color filters 121, green colorfilters 123, and blue color filters 125, for example. However, theinvention is not limited thereto, and color filters may include variousother colors. The red color filters 121, the green color filters 123,and the blue color filters 125 may be alternately arranged on the firstsubstrate 110 in the display area DA. The red color filters 121, thegreen color filters 123, and the blue color filters 125 may havedifferent thicknesses (or heights). FIG. 2 illustrates an example inwhich the red color filters 121 and the green color filters 123 have thesame thickness (or height) in a direction perpendicular a directionalong which the first substrate 110 extends, and the blue color filters125 are thicker than the red color filters 121 and the green colorfilters 123, but the invention is not limited thereto.

A plurality of dummy color filters 122 and 124 may be disposed on thenon-display area NDA of the first substrate 110. The dummy color filters122 and 124 may include the same material as that of the color filters121, 123, and 125 that are disposed in the display area DA. In anexemplary embodiment, the dummy color filters 122 and 124 and the colorfilters 121, 123, and 125 may be provided at the same time by the sameprocess.

The dummy color filters 122 and 124 may be disposed on the non-displayarea NDA of the first substrate 110. The dummy color filters 122 and 124may be disposed in an area between the boundary between the non-displayarea NDA and the display area DA and the outer side of the non-displayarea NDA. In an exemplary embodiment, the dummy color filters 122 and124 in the non-display area NDA may include a first dummy color filter122, which is disposed along the boundary between the display area DAand the non-display area NDA, and a second dummy color filter 124, whichis disposed between the first dummy color filter 122 and the sealingmember 160. FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the first dummy colorfilter 122 is disposed along the circumference of the display area DA tosurround the display area DA and the second dummy color filter 124 isdisposed along the circumference of the first dummy color filter 122.The first dummy color filter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124may both have a linear shape forming a closed curve.

The distance between the first dummy color filter 122 and the seconddummy color filter 124 may be larger than the gap between a pair ofadjacent color filters 121, 123, and 125 in the display area DA. Thepresence of the dummy color filters 122 and 124 may change the surfaceheight of the light-shielding member 140 and may thus contribute to theformation of the alignment layer dam pattern 180.

The first dummy color filter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124may include photosensitive organic materials including pigments of thesame color or of different colors. More specifically, the first dummycolor filter 122 may extend from one of the red color filters 121 thatis disposed adjacent to the edge of the display area DA, or may beprovided simultaneously with the red color filters 121, the green colorfilters 123, or the blue color filters 125 that are disposed in thedisplay area DA. The second dummy color filter 124, which is spacedapart from the first dummy color filter 122, may be providedsimultaneously with the red color filters 121 or the green color filters123 that are disposed in the display area DA.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first dummy color filter 122 may includethe same material as that of the blue color filters 125, and the seconddummy color filter 124 may include the same material as that of the redcolor filters 121 or the green color filters 123. In a case in which theblue color filters 125 are thicker than the red color filters 121 or thegreen color filters 123, the first dummy color filter 122 may be thickerthan the second dummy color filter 124. However, the invention is notlimited thereto. That is, the combination of the colors of the firstdummy color filter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124 is notparticularly limited.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first dummy color filter 122 and thesecond dummy color filter 124 may have different widths in a directionparallel to a direction along which the first substrate 110 extends.More specifically, the first dummy color filter 122 may have a largerwidth than the second dummy color filter 124. However, the invention isnot limited thereto. That is, the widths of the first dummy color filter122 and the second dummy color filter 124 are not particularly limited.

An interlayer dielectric layer 130 is disposed on the color filters 121,123, and 125 and the dummy color filters 122 and 124. The interlayerdielectric layer 130 may be an organic layer including an organicmaterial, but an inorganic layer including an inorganic insulatingmaterial, a stack of an organic layer and an inorganic layer, or ahybrid layer including the combination of an organic material and aninorganic material may also be applicable to the interlayer dielectriclayer 130.

The interlayer dielectric layer 130 covers most of the first substrate110 in and across the display area DA and the non-display area NDA. Theinterlayer dielectric layer 130 may be conformally provided along theshape of the surface of the underlying structure including, for example,the color filters 121, 123, and 125, the dummy color filters 122 and124, or the element (i.e., the first substrate 110 of FIG. 2) beneaththe color filters 121, 123, and 125 and the dummy color filters 122 and124, but the invention is not limited thereto.

An opening 131, which partially exposes the space between the firstdummy color filter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124, is definedin the interlayer dielectric layer 130. The opening 131 does not exposethe first dummy color filter 122, which is disposed on a relativelyinner side of the non-display area NDA close to the display area DA, butmay partially expose the second dummy color filter 124, which isdisposed on a relatively outer side of the non-display area NDA. Morespecifically, the interlayer dielectric layer 130 begins to extend fromthe display area DA to the non-display area NDA to completely cover thefirst dummy color filter 122, and extends further toward the seconddummy color filter 124, but stops extending at a location on the firstsubstrate 110 between the first dummy color filter 122 and the seconddummy color filter 124 before reaching the second dummy color filter124. Then, the interlayer dielectric layer 130 resumes extending fromthe top surface of the second dummy color filter 124 to cover the outersidewall of the second dummy color filter 124, and continues to extendtoward the outer side of the non-display area NDA.

Due to the aforementioned structure of the LCD device 1000, a pluralityof sections having different combinations of the dummy color filters 122and 124 and the interlayer dielectric layer 130 stacked therein and thushaving different heights are defined on the first substrate 110. Theplurality of sections include a first section S1 in which the firstdummy color filter 122 and the interlayer dielectric layer 130 arestacked on the first substrate 110, a second section S2 in which theinterlayer dielectric layer 130 is stacked on the first substrate 110, athird section S3 in which the first substrate 110 is exposed without theinterlayer dielectric layer 130 and the dummy color filters 122 and 124stacked thereon, and a fourth section S4 in which the second dummy colorfilter 124 and the interlayer dielectric layer 130 are stacked on thefirst substrate 110. The first section S1, the second section S2, thethird section S3, and the fourth section S4 may be disposed adjacent toone another or in series along an outward direction from the firstsubstrate 110. The second section S2 and the first section S1 have arelatively small height difference with the third section S3, but thefourth section S4 has a relatively large “dam-type” height differencewith the third section S3. FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which thethird section S3 has a larger width than the second width S2, but theinvention is not limited thereto.

The light-shielding member 140 is disposed on the interlayer dielectriclayer 130. The light-shielding member 140 may be disposed in the displayarea DA along the boundaries between the pixels PX, i.e., the boundariesbetween the color filters 121, 123, and 125. Hereinafter, thelight-shielding member 140 in the display area DA may be also referredto as light-shielding member 141 for convenience. The light-shieldingmember 140 may be disposed in the non-display area NDA to cover theentire non-display area NDA. In an exemplary embodiment, thelight-shielding member 140 may comprise a black organic polymer materialincluding a black dye or pigment, for example. In an exemplaryembodiment, the light-shielding member 140 may comprise a photosensitivematerial, for example.

The shape of the surface of the light-shielding member 140 may conformto the shape of the underlying structure. That is, the light-shieldingmember 140 alleviates the height differences in the underlyingstructure. However, since the light-shielding member 140 has differentthicknesses in different areas, the light-shielding member 140 does notrealize the same height differences as the underlying structure.

More specifically, the light-shielding member 140 may be divided into anarea in which the light-shielding member 140 has a first thicknessthrough full exposure and an area in which the light-shielding member140 has a second thickness, which is less than the first thickness,through halftone exposure. In the display area DA, the light-shieldingmember 140 is disposed along the boundaries between the pixels PX andhas the second thickness. In the non-display area NDA, thelight-shielding generally has the first thickness except for the firstsection S1, which is adjacent to the boundary between the non-displayarea NDA and the display area DA. That is, in the first section S1, thelight-shielding member 140 is disposed on the first dummy color filter122 and has the second thickness.

Accordingly, the light-shielding member 140 has the second thickness inthe first section S1 among other sections between the first dummy colorfilter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124, and has the firstthickness, which is larger than the second thickness, in the secondsection S2, the third section S3, and the fourth section S4. However,the invention is not limited thereto. That is, the thicknesses of thelight-shielding member 140 in the display area DA and the non-displayarea NDA, respectively, are not particularly limited. In an exemplaryembodiment, in a case in which the light-shielding member 140 isprovided as a column spacer, part of the light-shielding member 140 inthe display area DA may have the first thickness.

In an exemplary embodiment, the difference between the first thicknessand the second thickness may be larger than the difference between thethickness of the first dummy color filter 122 and the thickness of thesecond dummy color filter 124. Thus, a first height h1 from the surfaceof the first substrate 110 to the surface of a light-shielding member142 in the first section S1 may be less than a fourth height h4 of alight-shielding member 144 in the fourth section S4. Also, in anexemplary embodiment, the sum of the thickness of the first dummy colorfilter 122, the thickness of the interlayer dielectric layer 130, andthe second thickness of the light-shielding member 140 may be less thanthe sum of the thickness of the second dummy color filter 124, thethickness of the interlayer dielectric layer 130, and the firstthickness of the light-shielding member 144. Thus, the first height h1from the surface of the first substrate 110 to the surface of thelight-shielding member 142 in the first section S1 may be less than thefourth height h4 of the light-shielding member 144 in the fourth sectionS4.

In conclusion, the height of the light-shielding member 140 relative tothe surface of the first substrate 110 increases in the order of a thirdheight h3 in the third section S3, a second height h2 in the secondsection S2, the first height h1 in the first section S1, and the fourthheight h4 in the fourth section S4.

Accordingly, the alignment layer dam pattern 180, which is in the formof a recess whose surface height changes from the first height h1 to thesecond height h2 to the third height h3 to the fourth height h4 along adirection from the first dummy color filter 122 to the second dummycolor filter 124, may be defined. The alignment layer dam pattern 180stores an alignment layer composition 150 a (refer to FIG. 10) forforming the alignment layer 150 and makes the thickness of the alignmentlayer 150 uniform throughout the entire display area DA by additionallysupplying the alignment layer composition 150 a to the edge of thedisplay area DA where the alignment layer composition 150 a isrelatively quickly dried or by lowering the speed of drying thealignment layer composition 150 a along the edge of the display area DA.

The alignment layer dam pattern 180 may surround the display area DA andmay store and supply the alignment layer composition 150 a. First andsecond bottom surfaces 181_1 and 181_2 and first through third sidewalls182_1, 182_2, and 182_3 of the alignment layer dam pattern 180 may beprovided by the surface of the light-shielding member 140. The firstbottom surface 181_1 of the alignment layer dam pattern 180 may be thetop surface of the light-shielding member 140 in the third section S3 inwhich the alignment layer dam pattern 180 has a lowest surface height,and the second bottom surface 181_2 may be the top surface of thelight-shielding member 140 in the second section S2. The first sidewall182_1 of the alignment layer dam pattern 180 may be a side of thelight-shielding member 140 at the boundary between the first section S1and the second section S2, the second sidewall 182_2 of the alignmentlayer dam pattern 180 may be a side of the light-shielding member 140 atthe boundary between the second section S2 and the third section S3, andthe third sidewall 182_3 of the alignment layer dam pattern 180 may be aside of the light-shielding member 140 at the boundary between the thirdsection S3 and the fourth section S4.

The alignment layer dam pattern 180, similarly to the interlayerdielectric layer 130, may have small step-type height differences on aninner side of the LCD device 1000, but may have large dam-type heightdifferences on an outer side of the LCD device 1000. The step-typeheight differences, which are provided near the boundary between thenon-display area NDA and the display area DA, may alleviate the heightdifference between the non-display area NDA and the display area DA, andmay serve as a passage for facilitating the spread of the alignmentlayer composition 150 a stored in the alignment layer dam pattern 180 tothe display area DA. The dam-type height differences, which are largerthan the step-type height differences, may prevent the alignment layercomposition 150 a stored in the alignment layer dam pattern 180 fromspilling out of the alignment layer dam pattern 180 and spreading to thesealing member 160.

Pixel electrodes 170 may be disposed on the interlayer dielectric layer130 in the display area DA. The pixel electrodes 170 may be provided forthe pixels PX, respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, the pixelelectrodes 170 may include a transparent conductive material such asindium tin oxide (“ITO”) or indium zinc oxide (“IZO”). The alignmentlayer 150 is disposed on the pixel electrodes 170.

The alignment layer 150 may be disposed on the entire display area DAand on the alignment layer dam pattern 180 in the non-display area NDA.The alignment layer 150 determines the orientation of the liquid crystallayer 300 and aligns the liquid crystal layer 300. In an exemplaryembodiment, the alignment layer 150 may include polyimide, polyamicacid, polyamide, polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane or polystyrene,for example.

The alignment layer 150 may be conformally disposed on the surface ofthe underlying structure in the display area DA. The thickness of thealignment layer 150 may be uniform in the display area DA. That is, thethickness of the alignment layer 150 in the middle of the display areaDA may be substantially the same as the thickness of the alignment layer150 at the edge of the display area DA. In an exemplary embodiment, thethickness of the alignment layer 150 on the color filters 121, 123, and125 may differ from the thickness of the alignment layer 150 on thelight-shielding member 141 in the display area DA. In an exemplaryembodiment, the thickness of the alignment layer 150 on thelight-shielding member 141 in the display area DA may be less than thethickness of the alignment layer 150 on the color filters 121, 123, and125, in which case, the thickness of the alignment layer 150 may stillbe substantially uniform on the color filters 121, 123, and 125, forexample.

The alignment layer 150 may also be disposed on the alignment layer dampattern 180 of the light-shielding member 140. In response to thealignment layer composition 150 a stored in the alignment layer 150being dried, the alignment layer 150 may be disposed on the alignmentlayer dam pattern 180. The thickness of the alignment layer 150 may beirregular in the alignment layer dam pattern 180.

More specifically, the thickness of the alignment layer 150 on the firstbottom surface 181_1, which is between the second sidewall 182_2 and thethird sidewall 182_3 of the alignment layer dam pattern 180, mayincrease closer to the second sidewall 182_2 and the third sidewall182_3 and may decrease away from the second sidewall 182_2 and the thirdsidewall 182_3. Accordingly, the alignment layer 150 on the first bottomsurface 181_1 may be provided between the second sidewall 182_2 and thethird sidewall 182_3 in the form of a recess. The alignment layer 150 onthe first bottom surface 181_1 may be thickest adjacent to the thirdsidewall 182_3 and may be thinnest in a central area between the secondsidewall 182_2 and the third sidewall 182_3.

The thickness of the alignment layer 150 on the second bottom surface181_2, which is between the first sidewall 182_1 and the second sidewall182_2 of the alignment layer dam pattern 180, may increase closer to thefirst sidewall 182_1 and the second sidewall 182_2 and may decrease awayfrom the first sidewall 182_1 and the second sidewall 182_2.Accordingly, the alignment layer 150 on the second bottom surface 181_2,like the alignment layer 150 on the first bottom surface 181_1, may beprovided between the first sidewall 182_1 and the second sidewall 182_2in the form of a recess. The alignment layer 150 on the second bottomsurface 181_2 may be thickest adjacent to the first sidewall 182_1 andmay be thinnest in a central area between the first sidewall 182_1 andthe second sidewall 182_2.

The average thickness of the alignment layer 150 on the first bottomsurface 181_1 may be larger than the average thickness of the alignmentlayer 150 on the second bottom surface 181_2.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which the alignment layer 150 coversthe entire display area DA and is also provided in the non-display areaNDA, but only on the inside of the alignment layer dam pattern 180, butthe invention is not limited thereto. That is, the alignment layer 150may also be disposed in the first section S1, i.e., on the top surfaceof the light-shielding member 142 on the first dummy color filter 122,in which case, the average thickness of the alignment layer 150 in thefirst section S1 may be less than the average thickness of the alignmentlayer 150 in the second section S2 or the third section S3.

The second display panel 200 will hereinafter be described. The seconddisplay panel 200 has a second substrate 210 as a base substrate. In anexemplary embodiment, the second substrate 210 may be provided as atransparent insulating substrate including glass or a transparentplastic material, for example.

A common electrode 220 may be disposed on the second substrate 210. Thecommon electrode 220 may be provided as a transparent conductive layer.In an exemplary embodiment, the common electrode 220 may include atransparent conductive material such as ITO or IZO. The common electrode220 may have a unitary body on the entire display area DA and the entirenon-display area NDA.

The first display panel 100 and the second display panel 200 may faceeach other while maintaining a predetermined cell gap therebetween, andthe liquid crystal layer 300 may be interposed between the first displaypanel 100 and the second display panel 200. FIG. 2 illustrates anexample in which the alignment layer 150 is disposed only on the surfaceof the first display panel 100, but another alignment layer (notillustrated) may also be provided on the surface of the second displaypanel 200.

The liquid crystal layer 300 may be disposed on the inside of thesealing member 160, which is disposed in the non-display area NDA, andthe alignment of liquid crystal molecules 301 in the liquid crystallayer 300 may vary depending on the presence and the thickness of thealignment layer 150. Since in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, thealignment layer 150 is disposed in the alignment layer dam pattern 180to have an irregular thickness and is not disposed outside the alignmentlayer dam pattern 180, it may be difficult to form the same alignment ofliquid crystal molecules 301 as in the display area DA in thenon-display area NDA. However, since the entire non-display area NDA iscovered with the light-shielding member 140, problems such as lightleakage may be prevented.

A manufacturing method of an LCD device, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention, will hereinafter be described.

FIGS. 3 through 10 are cross-sectional views illustrating amanufacturing method of an LCD device, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, red color filters 121 are disposed on a displayarea DA of a first substrate 110. The red color filters 121 arepatterned in the display area DA to be a predetermined distance from oneanother. In an exemplary embodiment, the red color filters 121 may beprovided by photolithography or inkjet printing, for example, but theinvention is not limited thereto.

Referring to FIG. 4, green color filters 123 and a second dummy colorfilter 124 are disposed on the first substrate 110 on which the redcolor filters 121 are provided. The green color filters 123 arepatterned in the display area DA to be a predetermined distance from oneanother. The second dummy color filter 124 is provided in thenon-display area NDA in a linear shape forming a closed curve tosurround the display area DA. The green color filters 123 and the seconddummy color filter 124 may be provided at the same time by a singleprocess. The green color filters 123, the second dummy color filter 124,and the red color filters 121 may have the same thickness.

Referring to FIG. 5, blue color filters 125 and a first dummy colorfilter 122 are disposed on the first substrate 110 on which the redcolor filters 121, the green color filters 123, and the second dummycolor filter 124 are provided. The blue color filters 125 are patternedin the display area DA to be a predetermined distance from one another.The first dummy color filter 122 is provided in the non-display area NDAin a linear shape forming a closed curve to surround the display areaDA. The blue color filters 125 and the first dummy color filter 122 maybe provided at the same time by a single process. The blue color filters125 and the first dummy color filter 122 may have the same thickness,but may both be thicker than the red color filters 121, the green colorfilters 123, and the second dummy color filter 124.

FIGS. 3 through 5 illustrate an example in which the red color filters121, the green color filters 123, the second dummy color filter 124, andthe blue color filters 125 and the first dummy color filter 122 aresequentially provided, but the order in which the color filters 121,123, and 125 and the dummy color filters 122 and 124 are provided mayvary.

Referring to FIG. 6, an interlayer dielectric layer 130 in which anopening 131 is defined is disposed on the first substrate 110 on whichthe color filters 121, 123, and 125 and the dummy color filters 122 and124 are disposed. In an exemplary embodiment, the interlayer dielectriclayer 130 in which the opening 131 is defined may be provided bydepositing an interlayer insulating material on the entire surface ofthe first substrate 110 and patterning the interlayer insulatingmaterial to partially expose the space between the first dummy colorfilter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124. The opening 131 doesnot expose the first dummy color filter 122, which is disposed on arelatively inner side, but may partially expose the second dummy colorfilter 124, which is disposed on a relatively outer side. The interlayerdielectric layer 130 may extend from the display area DA to thenon-display area NDA to completely cover the first dummy color filter122 and may extend further toward the second dummy color filter 124, butmay not be disposed at a location on the first substrate 110 between thefirst dummy color filter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124before reaching the second dummy color filter 124. The expression “theinterlayer dielectric layer 130 stopping extending at a particularlocation”, as used herein, means that the sidewall of the interlayerdielectric layer 130 is located at the particular location.

The interlayer dielectric layer 130 in which the opening 131 is definedmay be provided by coating an organic material including aphotosensitive material and subjecting the organic material to anexposure process. In an alternative exemplary embodiment, the interlayerdielectric layer 130 in which the opening 131 is defined may be providedby depositing an inorganic material and subjecting the inorganicmaterial to a photolithography process. In response to the interlayerdielectric layer 130 being provided, a plurality of first through fourthsections S1 through S4 having different combinations of the dummy colorfilters 122 and 124 and the interlayer dielectric layer 130 stackedtherein and thus having different heights are defined between the firstdummy color filter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 7, a light-shielding member 140 isdisposed on the interlayer dielectric layer 130. The light-shieldingmember 140, which has different thicknesses in the display area DA andthe non-display area NDA, may be formed by a single mask process.

More specifically, a light-shielding material including a negativephotosensitive material is applied on the entire surface of the firstsubstrate 110 to a uniform thickness. Thereafter, a photomask 400 isdisposed over the light-shielding material. The photomask 400 includes alight-shielding area 403, a first light-transmitting area 401, and asecond light-transmitting area 402. The light-shielding area 403 is anarea that does not transmit light therethrough, the firstlight-transmitting area 401 is an area that transmits light therethroughin a full tone, and the second light-transmitting area 402 is an areathat transmits light therethrough in a halftone. The secondlight-transmitting area 402 may be implemented as a halftone area or maybe realized by slits.

The first light-transmitting area 401 corresponds to the entirenon-display area NDA except for the first section S1. The secondlight-transmitting area 402 corresponds to the gaps between the colorfilters 121, 123, and 125 of the display area DA and the first sectionS1 of the non-display area NDA. The light-shielding area 403 correspondsto the color filters 121, 123, and 125 of the display area DA.

Thereafter, once the light-shielding material is subjected to exposureand development processes using the photomask 400, the light-shieldingmaterial is completely removed from the light-shielding area 403 toexpose the color filters 121, 123, and 125 therebelow and remains in thefirst light-transmitting area 401 and the second light-transmitting area402. Since the second light-transmitting area 402 is exposed to asmaller amount of light than the first light-transmitting area 401, thethickness of the light-shielding material remaining in the secondlight-transmitting area 402 is smaller than the thickness of thelight-shielding material remaining in the first light-transmitting area401.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 8, the light-shielding member 140 maydefine an alignment layer dam pattern 180 that surrounds the displayarea DA.

The exemplary embodiment has been described, taking as an exampleforming the light-shielding member 140 using a light-shielding materialincluding a negative photosensitive material, but a light-shieldingmaterial including a positive photosensitive material may also be usedto form the light-shielding member 140, in which case, the positions ofthe light-shielding area 403 and the first light-transmitting area 401of the photomask 400 are reversed.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 9, a liquid-phase alignment layercomposition 150 a is applied. The liquid-phase alignment layercomposition 150 a may be applied by inkjet printing or nozzle printing.

The alignment layer composition 150 a is applied on the inside of thealignment layer dam pattern 180 and on the entire display area DA. Thealignment layer dam pattern 180 stores the alignment layer composition150 a supplied thereinto. The alignment layer composition 150 a may beintentionally jetted into the alignment layer dam pattern 180. In analternative exemplary embodiment, the alignment layer composition 150 amay be jetted onto the display area DA and may be allowed to spread intothe alignment layer dam pattern 180 and thus to be stored in thealignment layer dam pattern 180.

As mentioned above, the height of the light-shielding member 140 in thefirst section S1 may be lower than the height of the light-shieldingmember 140 in the fourth section S4. Accordingly, even when a largeamount of alignment layer composition 150 a is supplied into thealignment layer dam pattern 180, the alignment layer composition 150 amay spill over the first sidewall 182_1 (refer to FIG. 2) to the displayarea DA, but not over the third sidewall 182_3 (refer to FIG. 2) to theopposite side of the display area DA. Therefore, the alignment layercomposition 150 a may be prevented from spreading beyond the alignmentlayer dam pattern 180 to an area where a sealing member 160 is disposed.

The thickness of the alignment layer composition 150 a stored in thealignment layer dam pattern 180 may be larger than the thickness of thealignment layer composition 150 a applied on the display area DA, butthe invention is not limited thereto.

Thereafter, referring to FIG. 10, an alignment layer 150 is provided bydrying the alignment layer composition 150 a. The drying condition forthe alignment layer composition 150 a may differ from the center to theedge of the display area DA. More specifically, the alignment layercomposition 150 a is dried from all sides thereof at the center of thedisplay area DA, but is dried from only one side thereof at the edge ofthe display area DA. Thus, the humidity is relatively lower at the edgeof the display area DA than at the center of the display area DA, and asa result, the alignment layer composition 150 a is dried faster at theedge of the display area DA than at the center of the display area DA.Accordingly, the thickness of the alignment layer 150 may becomeirregular at the edge and the center of the display area DA, and as aresult, it may become difficult to precisely control liquid crystalmolecules 301 (refer to FIG. 2).

In the exemplary embodiment, the alignment layer dam pattern 180 isdisposed adjacent to the edge of the display area DA, and the alignmentlayer composition 150 a is stored in the alignment layer dam pattern180. Thus, the alignment layer composition 150 a is dried from all sidesthereof even at the edge of the display area DA, and as a result, almostthe same drying condition for the alignment layer composition 150 a asat the center of the display area DA may be established at the edge ofthe display area DA. Accordingly, the thickness of the alignment layer150 may become uniform throughout the display area DA.

The alignment layer composition 150 a in the alignment layer dam pattern180 is dried and remains. The shape of the alignment layer 150 providedin the alignment layer dam pattern 180 has already been described above,and thus, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

Thereafter, a second display panel 200 is provided, the sealing member160 is provided in the non-display area NDA of the first substrate 110,a liquid crystal layer 300 is applied on the first substrate 110, andthe second display panel 200 is bonded onto the first substrate 110,thereby obtaining the LCD device 1000 of FIG. 2. These processes arealready well known in the art to which the invention pertains, and thus,detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

An LCD device according to another exemplary embodiment of the inventionwill hereinafter be described.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD device according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 11, an LCD device 1001 differs from the LCD device1000 of FIG. 2 in that it further includes a third dummy color filter126, which is disposed between a second dummy color filter 124 and asealing member 160.

More specifically, the third dummy color filter 126 may be disposedbetween the second dummy color filter 124 and the sealing member 160.The third dummy color filter 126 may be disposed along the circumferenceof the second dummy color filter 124 to surround the second dummy colorfilter 124. The third dummy color filter 126, like a first dummy colorfilter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124, may have a linearshape forming a closed curve. The third dummy color filter 126 may beprovided simultaneously with red color filters 121 or green colorfilters 123, which are disposed in a display area DA. Thus, the thirddummy color filter 126 may include a photosensitive organic materialcomprising a pigment of the same color as, or a different color from,the first dummy color filter 122 and the second dummy color filter 124.In an exemplary embodiment, the first dummy color filter 122 may includethe same material as that of the blue color filters 125, the seconddummy color filter 124 may include the same material as that of the redcolor filters 121, and the third dummy color filter 126 may include thesame material as that of the green color filters 123. Accordingly, asmentioned above, in a case in which the blue color filters 125 arethicker than the red color filters 121 or the green color filters 123,the first dummy color filter 122 may be thicker than the second dummycolor filter 124 and the third dummy color filter 126 over a firstsubstrate 110. However, the invention is not limited thereto. That is,the combination of the colors of the first dummy color filter 122, thesecond dummy color filter 124, and the third dummy color filter 126 isnot particularly limited.

In an exemplary embodiment, the first dummy color filter 122 and thethird dummy color filter 126 have different widths, and the second dummycolor filter 124 and the third dummy color filter 126 may have the samewidth. More specifically, the first dummy color filter 122 may have alarger width than the second dummy color filter 124 and the third dummycolor filter 126. However, the invention is not limited thereto. Thatis, the widths of the first dummy color filter 122, the second dummycolor filter 124, and the third dummy color filter 126 are notparticularly limited.

An interlayer dielectric layer 130 is disposed on the third dummy colorfilter 126. The interlayer dielectric layer 130 may extend from the topof the second dummy color filter 124. That is, as illustrated in FIG.11, the interlayer dielectric layer 130 may begin to extend from the topsurface of the second dummy color filter 124 to cover the outer sidewallof the second dummy color filter 124, may extend further toward thethird dummy color filter 126 to completely cover the third dummy colorfilter 126, and may continue to extend toward the outer side of thenon-display area NDA.

Due to the aforementioned structure of the LCD device 1001, a pluralityof first through sixth sections S1 through S6 having differentcombinations of the second dummy color filter 124, the third dummy colorfilter 126, and the interlayer dielectric layer 130 stacked therein andthus having different heights are defined.

More specifically, the fifth section S5 in which the interlayerdielectric layer 130 is stacked on the first substrate 110 is definedbetween the second dummy color filter 124 and the third dummy colorfilter 126. The surface height of the fifth section S5 may be the sameas the surface height of the second section S2.

A section in which the third dummy color filter 126 and the interlayerdielectric layer 130 are stacked on the first substrate 110 is definedas the sixth section S6, and in a case in which the thickness of thesecond dummy color filter 214, which is disposed on the first substrate110, is the same as the thickness of the third dummy color filter 126,which is also disposed on the first substrate 110, as in the previousexemplary embodiment, the surface height of the sixth section S6 may bethe same as the surface height of the fourth section S4.

That is, the first section S1, the second section S2, the third sectionS3, the fourth section S4, the fifth section S5, and the sixth sectionS6 may be disposed on the non-display area NDA of the first substrate110 along an outward direction from the first substrate 110. In responseto a light-shielding member 140 being conformally provided along theshape of the surface of the underlying structure, a first alignmentlayer dam pattern 180_1 whose surface height changes from a first heighth1 to a second height h2 to a third height h3 to a fourth height h4along a direction from the first dummy color filter 122 to the thirddummy color filter 126 and a second alignment layer dam pattern 180_2whose surface height changes from the fourth height h4 to the secondheight h2 to the fourth height h4 may be sequentially defined in thelight-shielding member 140 along a direction from the first dummy colorfilter 122 to the third dummy color filter 126. The second alignmentlayer dam pattern 180_2 may be defined between an outer side 182_4 ofthe light-shielding member 144 and an inner side 182_5 of thelight-shielding member 146. The third bottom surface 181_3 may be a topsurface of the light-shielding member 140 in the fifth section S5.

An alignment layer dam pattern 180 including the first alignment layerdam pattern 180_1 and the second alignment layer dam pattern 180_2 hassmall step-type height differences on an inner side of the LCD device1001 and large dam-type height differences on an outer side of the LCDdevice 1001.

Accordingly, even when a large amount of alignment layer composition 150a is stored between the first section S1 in which the first dummy colorfilter 122 is disposed and the fourth section S4 in which the seconddummy color filter 124 is disposed and spills over to the fourth sectionS4 in which the second dummy color filter 124 is disposed, the alignmentlayer composition 150 a may be completely blocked from spilling over tothe sealing member 160 due to the presence of the sixth section S6 inwhich the third dummy color filter 126 is disposed.

An LCD device according to another exemplary embodiment of the inventionwill hereinafter be described.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of an LCD device according to anotherexemplary embodiment of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 12, an LCD device 1002 differs from the LCD device1000 of FIG. 2 in that it further includes a third dummy color filter126 and an opening 133 is defined between a second dummy color filter124 and a sealing member 160.

The third dummy color filter 126 has already been described, and thus, adetailed description thereof will be omitted.

As illustrated in FIG. 12, an interlayer dielectric layer 130 may beginto extend from the top surface of the second dummy color filter 124 andmay stop extending after covering the outer sidewall of the second dummycolor filter 124. Then, the interlayer dielectric layer 130 may resumeextending from the top surface of the third dummy color filter 126 andmay continue to extend toward the outer side of the non-display areaNDA.

Due to the aforementioned structure of the LCD device 1002, a pluralityof first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth sections S1, S2, S3,S4, S5′, and S6′ having different combinations of the second dummy colorfilter 124, the third dummy color filter 126, and the interlayerdielectric layer 130 and thus having different heights are defined.

More specifically, the fifth section S5′ in which the interlayerdielectric layer 130 is not stacked on a first substrate 110 is definedbetween the second dummy color filter 124 and the third dummy colorfilter 126. The surface height of the fifth section S5′ may be the sameas the surface height of the third section S3.

A section in which the third dummy color filter 126 and the interlayerdielectric layer 130 are stacked on the first substrate 110 is definedas the sixth section S6′, and in a case in which the thickness of thesecond dummy color filter 214, which is disposed on the first substrate110, is the same as the thickness of the third dummy color filter 126,which is also disposed on the first substrate 110, as in the previousexemplary embodiments, the surface height of the sixth section S6′ maybe the same as the surface height of the fourth section S4.

That is, the first section S1, the second section S2, the third sectionS3, the fourth section S4, the fifth section S5′, and the sixth sectionS6′ are disposed on the non-display area NDA of the first substrate 110in an outward direction from the first substrate 110.

In response to a light-shielding member 140 being conformally providedalong the shape of the surface of the underlying structure, a firstalignment layer dam pattern 180_1 whose surface height changes from afirst height h1 to a second height h2 to a third height h3 to a fourthheight h4 along a direction from the first dummy color filter 122 to thethird dummy color filter 126 and a second alignment layer dam pattern180_2′ whose surface height changes from the third height h3 to thefourth height h4 may be sequentially defined in the light-shieldingmember 140 along a direction from the first dummy color filter 122 tothe third dummy color filter 126.

An alignment layer dam pattern 180 including the first alignment layerdam pattern 180_1 and the second alignment layer dam pattern 180_2′ hassmall step-type height differences on an inner side of the LCD device1002 and large dam-type height differences on an outer side of the LCDdevice 1002. A fourth bottom surface 181_4 having the third height h3may be provided between the large dam-type height differences on theouter side of the LCD device 1002.

Accordingly, even when a large amount of alignment layer composition 150a (refer to FIG. 10) is stored between the first section S1 in which thefirst dummy color filter 122 is disposed and the fourth section S4 inwhich the second dummy color filter 124 is disposed and spills over tothe fourth section S4 in which the second dummy color filter 124 isdisposed, the alignment layer composition 150 a may be stored in thefifth section S5′ in which the fourth bottom surface 181_4 is provided.Also, the alignment layer composition 150 a may be completely blockedfrom spilling over to the sealing member 160 due to the presence of thesixth section S6′ in which the third dummy color filter 126 is disposed.

In concluding the detailed description, those skilled in the art willappreciate that many variations and modifications can be made to thepreferred embodiments without substantially departing from theprinciples of the invention. Therefore, the disclosed preferredembodiments of the invention are used in a generic and descriptive senseonly and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:
 1. A manufacturing method of a liquid crystaldisplay device, comprising: preparing a first substrate including adisplay area and a non-display area which surrounds the display area;forming a first color filter on the display area of the first substrate;forming a second color filter on the display area of the first substrateon which the first color filter is disposed and forming a second dummycolor filter on the non-display area; forming a third color filter onthe display area of the first substrate on which the first and secondcolor filters and the second dummy color filter are disposed and forminga first dummy color filter on the non-display area; forming aninterlayer dielectric layer in which an opening, which partially exposesa space between the first and second dummy color filters, is defined, onan entirety of a surface of the first substrate on which the first,second, and third color filters and the first and second dummy colorfilters are disposed; applying a light-shielding material on theentirety of the surface of the first substrate on which the interlayerdielectric layer is disposed; forming a light-shielding member among thefirst, second, and third color filters in the display area and on anentirety of the non-display area by patterning the light-shieldingmaterial, the light-shielding member defining an alignment layer dampattern, which is a recess, in the non-display area; after the formingthe light-shielding member: applying an alignment layer composition onan inside of the alignment layer dam pattern and on an entirety of thedisplay area; and forming an alignment layer having a uniform thicknessthroughout the display area by compensating for a drying speed of thealignment layer composition at an edge of the display area with thealignment layer composition stored in the alignment layer dam pattern.2. The manufacturing method of claim 1, wherein the forming thelight-shielding member, comprises performing an exposure process using aphotomask including a first light-transmitting area, which transmitslight therethrough in a first tone, a second light-transmitting area,which transmits light therethrough in a second tone, and alight-shielding area, which does not transmit light therethrough.
 3. Themanufacturing method of claim 2, wherein the performing the exposureprocess using the photomask, comprises performing the exposure processby placing the photomask such that the light-shielding area correspondsto tops of the first, second, and third color filters, the secondlight-transmitting area corresponds to spaces among the first, second,and third color filters and a top of the first dummy color filter, andthe first light-transmitting area corresponds to the entirety of thenon-display area except for the top of the first dummy color filter.